Kay's Sequin Fabric Tail

[KayNS]

I'd really like a sequin tail, but don't have the energy or motivation to sew/glue on individual sequins. So, having seen a few people do it, I bought some sequin 2-way stretch fabric to make a tail with. It was on a great sale and it's very pretty and looks kinda scale-like to me:



My plan of action is to get some complimentary swimwear spandex and make a basic 2-layer tail skin for over my Mahina Merfin. I haven't decided on extra fins yet, but I'm debating on shelf liner or perhaps a fabric + ziptie combo.

Suggestions?

[AniaR]

this is so funny kay. I had a dream that I got pregnant and asked you to make me a sequin tail to wear haha!!!

This is going to look amazing on you.

[Mermaid Chrissa]

Oooh! Nice! I'm excited to see your progress! That fabric looks like it will make a really cool tail.

I'm also interested in making a sequin fabric sometime and I've been eyeing reversible sequin fabric, because I think it might make a pretty awesome looking tail. But if I were to do it I don't know if I would use Spandex as the base layer or Neoprene.

[KayNS]

I'd like to do a neoprene tail, however I don't know of any local sources and ordering online is a bit iffy right now with a potential Canada Post strike looming.

[KayNS]

I think I have all of my materials ready. I have:
- Charcoal swimwear spandex for base tail layer
- Sequin material for top tail later
- Plastic shelf-liner for fins
- Glitter fabric paint for lines on flukes and perhaps accents on fins

Here's my rough sketch:

[KayNS]

I'm bummed that I can't use my serger for the sequin layer.

[AniaR]

it's going to look amazing

[KayNS]

I was thinking of making the full spandex skin first, then making the sequin skin and then sewing the two together, but I'm not sure if that would be the best to then add the fins to.

Alternately, I could make the front and back halves of the skin seperately, with fins and all, and then sew the 2 together. But the main reasons I was thinking of making the spandex skin seperate from the sequin is 1) so that it could have a nice strong serged seam, and 2) so that there are no sequins on the inside of the tail to scratch me up.

Suggestions welcome!

[KayNS]

I made some progress tonight. I cut out both fabrics and cut out what I think will be my pectoral fins.

My fabrics with a shelf-liner pectoral fin:


Spandex cutout:


Cutting out the sequin pieces:


Sunglasses = safety glasses, right? (A sequin bit in the eye would suck!)



Little bonus craftiness: I added some glitter to my mermaid flower crown.

[KayNS]

Hmm... I have NO idea why my photos all uploaded sideways...

[PearlieMae]

They are all upright for me!

[KayNS]

I made some more progress on my tail. I'm hoping to have it finished today.

I've got the spandex and stretch sequin sewn together:



Unfortunately I seem to be stuck with the fins. I'm starting to doubt whether shelf-liner is the way to go. I'm thinking instead of making pectoral and possibly ankle and dorsal fins out of the same spandex material, then I'll paint the fins and the fluke with some sparkly fabric paint.



Thoughts?

[KayNS]

More progress this morning. :-)

I decided on dark fins. I cut out and sewed on the pectoral and ankle fins:



Then I used glitter fabric paint to paint the fin ridges/lines. It's not the best paint job, but it'll do for now.



Now I just need to let that dry, then I plan to turn down the waist and sew it (to give a dark waistband) and sew up the side seams. It's going over a Mahina fin, so I think i'll leave most of the fluke open and just sew the tips closed to hold the skin on the monofin.

[geffy]

wow nice, amazing

[KayNS]

I finished! Well... kinda.

This morning I turned over and sewed the waistband, then sewed the 2 halves together (cleverly pinning the small fins away from the seams so that I wouldn't catch them up. :-) ) I ended up sewing up the entire fluke closed to give a better shape.

I then stuffed my monofin in, and VOILA!





Unfortunately, when I tried it on I found out that I lost some length and now it won't go all the way up over my butt. :-( My next plan is to add on more material to the top to extend it.

[KayNS]

Finished! I added 2 panels of both materials to the top.



Then I sewed it up the sides. I tried it on and the material will go up over my boobs, but doesn't look good that way. I folded the material down and then over so the sequin is still on the outside and now it rests nicely below my bellybutton and covers my butt in the back, even sitting.



I'm doing my first appearance with Halifax Mermaids on Monday, so I'll have full pics after that. :-D So excited!!! Now I need a top...

[JustCOS]

That's gonna look so beautiful in the water! I can't wait to see more pictures!

[AniaR]

you're so fancy! Cant wait to get photos of you on Monday!!! <3

[KayNS]

Here's the final product! From my first appearance with Halifax Mermaids! :-D

[AniaR]

and I would just like to say, not a single kid said Kay didn't look real, or even pointed out she had a different tail. All they did was talk about how sparkly she is!